By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Crvena Zvezda made the first step towards the ABA Liga title by getting the 96-88 win over Mega Leks in Game 1 of the finals.
Dejan Radonjic’s squad have fought a tough battle against their challengers, the youngest team of the league, Mega Leks. As many have predicted even before the game, the guest just did not manage to stick to the strainous tempo of the game due to no less than five of their injured players at the moment.
Mega Leks did fight bravely for their desired first win in the final series, but they fell short due to the lack of energy, left in their fuel tanks for the last quarter, which they entered with a 70:68 lead thanks to the three pointer of Rade Zagorac a few seconds before the end of the third.
However, as the last quarter began, things went the other way and the score was tied for the last time at 72:72 in 32nd minute. In the forthcoming 2 minutes, Zvezda made an 11:0 run on the wings of Quincy Miller (5 points during this period) and Marko Simonovic (two three pointers) and it turned out that this decided the outcome of the game.
Maik Zirbes was the key for Crvena zvezda Telekom’s victory. He finished his dominant performance with 17 points, 12 rebounds, an assist and a steal, which was enough for the valuation of 29, which is also the highest individual valuation of this game.